Mitigating Insider Risks This Holiday Season

As we approach the holiday season, organizations are preparing for year-end celebrations and operational slowdowns. As these activities ramp up, so do cybercriminals who adjust their tactics to exploit this busy period. Insider risks, whether accidental or intentional, often increase as staffing levels shift, distractions multiply, and the boundaries between personal and professional life blur. These overlapping factors require organizations to pay close attention to how employees interact with systems and data, especially when holiday routines disrupt established workflows.

‘Tis the season of insider risk

The holiday season often exposes organizations to a convergence of vulnerabilities. Reduced staffing, for example, can create gaps in security monitoring, leaving systems exposed. According to a recent study, 52% of organizations that experienced ransomware attacks saw them occur during periods of corporate downtime, including holidays and weekends, when security operations may be less vigilant. The same report found that 90% of organizations have procedures in place to detect vulnerabilities, but many lack the appropriate remediation and recovery capabilities. This results in cybercriminals often exploiting these factors during the holidays, capitalizing on slower response times due to diminished staff.

Building on these operational realities, it’s important to consider how employee behavior and external threats intersect. Stress and distractions can lead to lapses in judgement or an increase in insider negligence, causing accidental data breaches. Employees may also be more prone to taking risks, like accessing sensitive information on personal devices or clicking on suspicious links, leading to social engineering and compromise.

The role of employees and external threat actors

Many security incidents, including ransomware and phishing, hinge on the actions of insiders; thus, gaining early visibility into insider behavior is essential. During the holiday season, personal activities such as online shopping often occur on corporate devices. Employees may see this as harmless multitasking, but as DTEX insider threat research indicates, using company assets for personal activities increases the risk of breaches, whether through credential compromise, blended attacks, or simple negligence.

The FBI recently warned of a surge in impersonation scams. Cybercriminals facilitate account takeover (ATO) schemes by posing as financial institutions or trusted brands to steal money and sensitive information. Amazon has also issued an alert that 300 million customers are at risk from scammers imitating the company, using social engineering tactics to obtain credentials or install malicious apps.

AI: the modern threat

Cybercriminals become turbocharged with the use of AI, which is constantly influencing the opportunities and risks that organizations face. On one hand, it powers personalized shopping experiences and contributed to record Black Friday spending ($11.8 billion in the U.S. alone). On the other, cybercriminals are using AI to craft highly convincing scams like targeted email campaigns, fake promotions, and phishing attempts. This dual use of AI creates a more complex risk environment, where both external actors and insiders can inadvertently or intentionally contribute to security incidents.

These attempts increase significantly during this time of year, with new tools accelerating malicious efforts, yielding power to threat actors at unprecedented scale. Given this progression, organizations need to focus on practical, people-centric strategies.

A human-centric approach to mitigating insider risks

Organizations have the power to reduce insider risks during this season. By strengthening their understanding of insider behaviors throughout the year, companies can compare trends to patterns seen during peak holiday periods. This approach helps companies detect and deter potential security risks before they escalate.

Here are a few strategies to implement for better protection from insider risks during the holidays (and beyond):

• Behavioral analysis and monitoring: During the holidays, employees may exhibit behavioral indicators that signal potential security risks, such as increased personal use of corporate devices, sudden performance declines, frustration with the organization, or unexplained access to sensitive information. By monitoring these patterns and addressing them with a proportionate and sensitive response, organizations can reduce risks and prevent inadvertent or malicious breaches.
• Internal security training: Regular training sessions on how to spot phishing attempts, scams, and other concerning activities or behaviors are vital. Employees need to be aware of the increased risk during the holiday season and be equipped to recognize and report suspicious behavior, from both internal and external sources. Focusing on common holiday-related threats, such as fake promotional emails or fraudulent e-commerce sites, can be particularly effective in protecting sensitive company data.
• Creating a culture of security: One of the most effective ways to combat insider risks is to foster a workplace culture underpinned by bidirectional loyalty. When employees feel trusted, respected, protected, and valued by the organization, they are less likely to engage in malicious activities. This can be particularly effective during the holiday season, a time when morale and employee engagement are key. Addressing feelings of alienation, unfair treatment, or lack of recognition can help deter employees from engaging in harmful behavior while simultaneously encouraging them to report concerning behaviors.

As organizations consider these strategies, it’s important to pair them with new technologies that support a risk-adaptive approach.

Evolving solutions: risk-adaptive data loss prevention and AI-driven support

This year, organizations have access to new tools to address these challenges. DTEX’s risk-adaptive data loss prevention (DLP) solution focuses on user intent and behavioral context, moving beyond traditional content-based controls to prevent data loss before it occurs. The Ai³ Risk Assistant complements DLP by using AI to guide analysts through investigations, summarize risk behaviors, and recommend next steps, all while preserving privacy and accelerating response times. These offerings are built for today’s environment, where AI is both a tool and target, and where the line between insider and outsider risk is increasingly blurred.

Turning the holiday season into an opportunity

The importance of a proactive, well-rounded insider risk management program will always be top of mind (even more so as this year comes to a close). Despite the increased risk, the holiday season offers a unique opportunity for organizations to strengthen their security posture. By leaning into behavioral insights, and combining technology with employee education and cultural initiatives, companies can effectively maintain insider risk, turning vulnerabilities into opportunities for workforce and data protection.